The anticipated third power in the region has defied all expectations, thriving in a city where even Euroleague contenders struggle against teams with larger budgets, particularly those that have consistently ranked at the top of the AdmiralBet ABA League…

The Budućnost Voi players, who many believed would be satisfied just trailing Partizan and Red Star, have demonstrated their emergence as a serious contender on the courts of European elite teams. As the playoffs approach, the boys in blue and white find themselves contemplating the possibility of securing the 1st place.

There are still numerous games left to be played, he noted. Andrej Zhakelj.

The Budućnost coach aims to temper the excitement following their victories over Partizan and Red Star Belgrade, reminding everyone that the Montenegrin champions have yet to claim any titles. Nevertheless, with ten rounds remaining, the control over the top position heading into the playoffs now rests entirely with his players.

They have already successfully navigated three of their four most challenging away games against Partizan, Red Star Belgrade, and Cedevita-Olimpija, while the toughest challenges remaining are against Dubai and Spartak—both formidable opponents that previously handed the “blue and white” their only loss in the regional league this season.

Currently leading, the Podgorica team shares an identical record with Partizan (18-2), while Red Star, standing at 16-4, appears to be out of the race for first place. Thus, a potentially decisive match for home court advantage in the playoffs awaits Andrej Žakelj’s crew on April 11th when the Belgrade “black and whites” visit “Morača”.

Additionally, Partizan is faced with another challenging task just a week later—a derby clash against Red Star Belgrade on their home turf. Before the crucial away game in Podgorica, Željko Obradović‘s team will also contend with Real Madrid in the final round of the Euroleague regular season in Belgrade.

As for remaining A-League matches for Partizan, away fixtures against Dubai and Cedevita-Olimpija may also prove to be complicated.

Upcoming Matches

FUTURE (18-2): Cedevita-Olimpija (D), Mega (G), Borac (D), Spartak (G), Cibona (G), SC Derbi (G), Partizan (D), Krka (G), FMP (D), Dubai (G).

PARTIZAN (18-2): Krka (G), FMP (D), Dubai (G), Mornar (D), Split (G), Igokea (D), Budućnost (G), C. zvezda (D), Cedevita-Olimpija (G), Mega (D).

C. STAR (16-4): Zadar (D), Cedevita-Olimpija (G), Mega (D), Borac (G), Spartak (D), Cibona (G), SC Derbi (D), Partizan (G), Krka (D), FMP (G).

A lot is still to unfold, but clarity may emerge post-April 11th; a Budućnost victory would effectively double its significance, as the “blue and white” would then hold the advantage over Partizan in their head-to-head matchup.

While the final standing at the league season won’t determine the champion, Budućnost has been pivotal in prior playoffs since their title win in 2018, as teams enjoying home-court advantage typically progress. Ultimately, this Budućnost squad has proven capable of winning even under the toughest away conditions.

– Our basketball has been solid from the start, and over the last two months, we’ve only faced two losses across both competitions, hinting at our potential. The players have faith in our strategy, and it’s yielding results, – emphasized Žakelj.

For the “blue and white,” focusing on recuperating during the Cup break is essential after the arduous schedule of two matches weekly. The preparation now involves resting key players like Juan Morgan (who underwent a magnetic resonance test), ahead of crucial battles in the ABA League and Eurocup.

Since 2015, only Budućnost and Igokea have triumphed twice in Belgrade.

Budućnost has managed to conquer Belgrade twice in less than two months, first defeating Partizan (97:90) in the Belgrade Arena, and most recently, triumphing over Red Star (96:89) at “Pionir.”

“The Blues have thus replicated the achievement from the 2020/21 season when they secured victories both times in the Serbian capital.”

The difficulty of accomplishing two victories against these “eternal rivals” on their home ground is evident, as Budućnost has achieved this feat just twice in the last decade, whereas the rest of the ABA League has managed it once—against Igokea in the 2015/16 season.

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